Radiator for a motor of an air compressor

ABSTRACT

A radiator for a motor in an air compressor has a tubular casing enclosing the motor. The tubular casing has a plurality of fins radially formed on a body thereof. Two of the fins are longer than the others, and each has an opening defined at an edge thereof. The long fins are engaged with a base of the air compressor by fasteners extending between the base and the openings of the longer fins. A cooling fan is rotatably mounted on an axle extending from the motor and adjacent the fins.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention is related to a radiator, and more particularly to a radiator for a motor in an air compressor.

[0003] 2. Description of Related Art

[0004] Compact electrical air compressors (or inflators) are used for charging tires etc with air. The conventional compact air compressor generally is composed of a motor and a piston assembly. The motor drives the piston assembly to compress the air. However, in use the motor generates a lot of heat so the temperature of the motor rises. A conventional casing (60) of the motor is a cylindrical tube, as shown in FIG. 5, of which a surface is small and a heat-radiating effect is low.

[0005] Therefore, the invention provides a radiator for a motor in an air compressor to mitigate and/or obviate the aforementioned problems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0006] The main objective of the invention is to provide a radiator for a motor which has a good dissipation of undesired heat generated during operation of the motor.

[0007] Other objects, advantages and novel features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0008]FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a radiator in accordance with the invention and an air compressor;

[0009]FIG. 2 is a front view of the radiator assembled on the air compressor;

[0010]FIG. 3 is a side view of the radiator assembled on the air compressor;

[0011]FIG. 4 is a side view of the radiator in accordance with the invention; and

[0012]FIG. 5 is a side view of a conventional casing of an air compressor.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0013] Referring to FIGS. 1-4, a radiator in accordance with the invention is assembled on a motor (10) of an air compressor (1), and is composed of a tubular casing (20) and a cooling fan (30).

[0014] The tubular casing (20) encloses the motor (10) and has a plurality of fins (21) radially formed on a body thereof. Two diametrically opposed fins (21 a) are longer than the other fins (20), and each has an opening (22) defined at an edge thereof. Two fasteners (23) each having two ends secure the tubular casing to a base (40) of the compressor (1) by first ends of the fasteners (23) being secured in the corresponding opening (22), and second ends of the fasteners (23) being secured to the base (40). Therefore, the motor (10) is securely supported on the air compressor (1).

[0015] The motor (10) has an axle (11) extending therefrom. The cooling fan (30) is mounted on the axle (11). When the motor (10) is actuated, the cooling fan (30) can be driven to rotate.

[0016] In use, when the air compressor (1) is powered on, the motor (10) drives a piston assembly (50) to compress the air and generates a lot of heat. The heat is conducted via the body of the tubular casing (20) to the fins (21) and radiated out from the fins (21), whereby the temperature of the motor (10) is retained low. Moreover, the cooling fan (30) is driven by the motor (10) to rotate to draw in fresh air through the fins (21) to cool the tubular casing (20) and thus promote the heat-radiating effect of the radiator.

[0017] From the above description, it is noted that the invention has the following advantages:

[0018] 1. By the radiating effect of the fins (21) of the tubular casing (20) and the cooling fan (30), the motor (10) can be retained at a low temperature and its useful life is extended.

[0019] 2. By the fins (21a) being secured via the fasteners (23) on the base (40), the motor (10) is also securely positioned on the air compressor (1).

[0020] It is to be understood, however, that even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the present invention have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and function of the invention, the disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in detail, especially in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the invention to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A radiator for a motor (10) in an air compressor (1), the radiator comprising: a tubular casing (20) enclosing the motor (10), the tubular casing (20) having a plurality of fins (21) radially formed on an outer periphery thereof.
 2. The radiator as claimed in claim 1, wherein two fins (21 a) are longer than the other fins (21) and opposed to each other, each longer fin (21 a) having an opening (22) defined at an edge thereof, and engaged with a base (40) of the air compressor (1) by a respective one of two fasteners (23) securely extending between the openings (22) of the longer fins (21 a) and the base (40).
 3. The radiator as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a cooling fan (30) rotatably mounted on an axle (11) extending from the motor (10), whereby the cooling fan (30) draws air across the plurality of fins (21) and (21 a). 